Marchionne: Chrysler 200 'Not Up to Snuff'

A design choice has resulted in a poor reception for the Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' outspoken chief executive has said.

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Sergio Marchionne told Automotive News that the vehicle, which received an extensive redesign with the 2015 model year, is "not up to snuff" because designers borrowed a design element from a Hyundai vehicle that caused a problem when passengers entered and exited the rear seats. Marchionne pointed to the slope of the roof.

"The Hyundai which we copied [presumably the Sonata] has the same problem," Marchionne said. "We didn't copy the car, we copied the entry point to the rear seat. Dummies. I acknowledge it. Some people from design left some of their private parts on the table after we came up with that determination. But I think we're learning from this process."

Despite the concern over the vehicle, Chrysler 200 sales increased 51.57% to 177,889 units to retail and fleet buyers during the 2015 calendar year. Sales had fallen to 117,363 in 2014 from 122,836 in 2013. That year, Chrysler sold more than 40% of its 200 cars to fleets, mostly in the rental segment. Commercial fleets added 2,023 200 cars that year.